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Doctors

When I was a child living in Handsworth our family doctor was Dr Reichenfeld who had a surgery in Farm Street, Hockley.
I remember my mom calling him out when I was about 4or 5 yrs old in the late 40s. I was in mom's bed because I was poorly and had fallen asleep. I remember waking up to see him standing by the window. Mom said he insisted she left me to sleep and he said he would wait until I had woken up. Another occasion when he was called out, there was heavy snow and he couldn't use his car, so he walked to our house in Vicarage Road. How many doctors nowadays, would do what he did. He was a lovely man. His son took over when he retired. He was just as nice. He later emigrated to Canada. Dr Tennant took over in the 60s. Again a lovely man.
 
Anybody remember or know if indeed Dr Norman Barry Crisp who practised in Handsworth in the 1950's is still alive? He was a wonderful GP and when doctors could opt out of the NHS he had a surgery on Soho Road and later Holyhead Road Handsworth. The surgery I most recall was on Sandwell Road next to a childrens home.
 
sue reeves said:
Anybody remember or know if indeed Dr Norman Barry Crisp who practised in Handsworth in the 1950's is still alive? He was a wonderful GP and when doctors could opt out of the NHS he had a surgery on Soho Road and later Holyhead Road Handsworth. The surgery I most recall was on Sandwell Road next to a childrens home.
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Hi

Yes, I remember him very well. He retired about 15 - 20 years ago, and died about 5 years ago. An excellent doctor.
 
when i was a child growing up in winson green our family doctor was Dr lycett ( think that how you spell it )
i cant remember where it was im thinking it could be in winson green or handsworth
i remember we used to walk there so it couldnt be that far
anyway i was always there as i suffered with septic tonsillities
and i remember this greyhaird old man in a white suit learning over his desk
mom has always said she wasnt very keen on him as she couldnt understand and said he would give her anything to fob her off
 
Does anyone remember doctor ross.his surgery was on moseley road top of balsall heath road ..i remember going there as a child and there was a big poster on the dreary brown wall saying prevention is better than cure............also drs lowry and jones again on moseley rd,top of conybere st.......i remember dr lowry used to smoke while seeing a patient .my moms friend was being examined by him as she was pregnant and the hot ash from his fag dropped on her stomach...she really gave him what for ...wouldnt get away with it these days ....lol
 
Does anyone remember Dr Freshwater who had his surgery in a house next to Aston Parish churchyard on the corner right next to the entrance to where they held the Onion Fair ? There was a pub on the opposite corner - the name escapes me.
He always told my Mother that boys should always wear braces, as belts were harmful to growing tummies.
His dimly lit waiting room was always full of smoke and you had to move along a chair at a time until it was your turn to see him.
I hated it, only because I then had to walk the length of Aston Lane with my Mother to the chemist on the Witton with the prescription
 
The pub was the aston tavern I remember the surgery as I lived by there but went to Dr Topping at the top of park rd by the crossroads to victoria rd (it might be park lane I'm sure Jean will put me right)lol
 
Christopher I do indeed remember Dr Freshwater and the way you had to sit on those little wooden chairs and move along till it was your turn. It was almost like playing musicl chairs. I remember he had a waiting list for having your tonsils removed and I hated to see my name getting closer and closer to the top. Please forgive me if this is too personal and I am not referring to myself but I heard a lot of people saying a bar of soap was the cure for acute constipation. I quite liked him as a doctor as he was very kind to me when I was rushed into hospital. He sat upstairs and held my hand till the ambulance came. Pat aunt Floss had a Dr Topping and so did Pete so I will ask him when he gets back. I know there were a couple of doctors in Earlsbury gardens. Jean.
 
Yes, I remember Dr Freshwater, he was my Doctor in the 50s at a lovely old white house between Aston Parish Church and the Aston Tavern (still standing but very delapidated the pub that is), my Wife was with Doctor Topping (ex-Army MO) at junction of Park Road and Victoria Road. I was also registered with another doctor at that surgery by the name of Dr Morgan I cannot remember whether he was before or after Dr Freshwater Eric
 
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Hi Cookie Dr.Morgan came after Dr.Freshwater. I remember my aunt moving to a Dr Rosenhall up Witton road way. Can't remember why though. Jean.
 
Jean,
I came to the top of his tonsils list and had them removed in the Childrens Hospital. I was in a ward full of kids from all over the City. As you can imagine there was a lot of crying. It must have been like a production line. After the op they gave us all an ice cream to soothe the throat. It was also an overnight stay I recall.
Dr. Freshwater also diagnosed my Sister's celiac condition which doomed her to a stay in The Children's for nearly 2 years.
 
Cristopher maybe we were in at the same time as I reached the top of the dreaded list and was fed ice cream too. I remember climbing the big steps and they would not let your mom go onto the ward with you. I had my adenoids removed too. Don't know why?. Jean.
 
Jean,
Hospital visiting back then was barbaric. Because I was under 13 I was not allowed to visit my Sister, so the only glimpse I got of her for 2 years was when my Mother brought her to the ward window and I could wave.
 
I remember them wheeling me into a place and there were fires but I can't remember where it would have been?. Maybe steralising the theatre instruments?. Can you remember that Christopher?. Jean.
 
Cookie,
Thanks for letting me know and an Ansells pub as I recall.
I suppose Dr. Freshwater's place is long gone.

Jean,
All I really recall is being wheeled down a seemingly endless corridor and then the dreaded mask !
 
Yes Doctors house gone, wonderful old Vicarage opposite gone, Ansells Aston Tavern derelict, housing and shops opposite church gone, just the Church left, all very sad. Eric
 
Eric that is why I can no longer go back because it hurts so much. My mom passed away ten years ago and you would not recoginise Holte road as it was with our lovely neighbours. I would like to say a lot more but would get banned. Jean.
 
chris911 said:
As a child, living in Hay Mills, our doctor was Dr. Ivor Donovan. He operated out of a large house on the Coventry Road, near the Swan. His two brothers, Harry and Edwin, were also doctors, practicing at the same address. I remember that everyone dressed in their Sunday best when visiting the doctor, and children were kept quiet!
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Was it this one Chris? Looks a bit sad now...such a wonderful Victorian/Edwardian Villa.
 
hello.my doctor was dr nitzki.school lane shard end.he saved my life.he called a ambo and police escort and got me to yardley green hospital.in time.
god bless him
 
hi guys
speaking of doctors does any body recall a doctor smith i beleive is name was and it was at the top end of whitehead rd by victoria rd and across facing the swan pub
but in those days it was houses and he had a big pink cadilac motor and he was the first doctor in birmingham to ever charge a fee for his visit at the surgery
it was a small charge of 50 pence we lived at 47 victorioa rd just across the way from him our aunty ede marsden from park street came over and called at our house to see my mother and she said guess what old smithy is charging us 50 pence for a visit what he done was to redele his surgery and keep is pink american cadilac out side on the street
then he put bars on his windows and his front door but it did not work for him people soon stopped and did not pay him
i beleive he got into trouble with the medical board and then he up stickesand moved
have a nice day guys even thou its wet out there and be careful astonion
 
i remember dr dean at shard end crescent surgery his wife was a doctor there too. she was a big woman and was really rough examining me when i was pregnant so i asked her if she thought she was kneading bread.lol. i tried not to see her after that .
 
hello Rod
i remember both doctors very well,the reason Dr Peters had rosy cheeks i think could have a lot to do with the fact he got drunk every night we would see him staggering home past our house most nights.Dr kelly my mom would never go to she thought he was a one for the ladies.There was a seniour Doctor his name was Dr leslie he came out to see my brother on xmas eve we were watching scrouge on the tele [ not many about then ] he stayed about 2 hrs till my mom said we were all going to bed.You are right their surgery was on the corner of Aston road/Aston brook street.
Pauline Green.
 
Alan I don't but my sister in law does and I remember her telling everyone in those days that she had a private doctor. She laughs about it now though. Jean.
 
Dr Gould was my doctor from when l was born untill l left for Texas in 1958....as people say he was very abrupt and scared the hell out of me, mom told me he was a field doctor in ww1 so he would have been up for retirement the last time l saw him...Dr Gould was a very stout man bald headed and wore thick horn rimed glasses, and if l remember always smoked a cigar, he definatley left a lasting impression on you, but for all that was a very good Doctor, his waiting room was small but like most other waiting rooms had chairs lined up against the wall, and on cold days you could hear the hissing of the gasfire, which just added to the dark and depressing surroundings,needless to say l only went when l had to....Brenda
 
Brenda I too remember that hissing sound from the waiting room fire at our doctors waiting room. I had forgot until you reminded me. I hated the place as a child due to that dreaded tonsills and adenoid list. Jean.
 
Jean, do you remember Dr Goulds door into his office....it was a well padded door that you went through only to have another door to go through, all kinds of things went on in my head thinking the door was padded to block out screams etc....the imagination of a childs mind eh!...and after entering through the two doors one was confronted by Dr Gould....a childs nightmare...Brenda
 
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